Safety liquid feed



Oct. 14, 1930. R. F. METCALFE SAFETY LIQUID FEED Original Filed May 14,1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1542 -6. W

Mazmug ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1930. R. F. MT'CALFE 7 1,778,198

' SAFETY LIQUID FEED 7 Original Filed May 14, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 7 365 i J Q 18 v P 1142. l Q k enemas @ei. re. 193G narran stares earnerFFEQE i nonnn'r r. mnzroanrn, or BROOKLYN, ivnw roan, ASSIGNOR 'roSOGON'Y BURNER COB- ZPOBA'IION, OF NEW YORK, N. "221,

A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SAFETY LIQUID rnm original application filedmay 14., 1925, Serial No. 30312. Divided and this application filedDecember 23, 1925. Serial No. 771324.

This invention relates to a control device adapted to govern the flow ofa liquid through a conduit system. In particular the invention relatesto a novel and improved safety device which will control the stopping ofthe flow of liquid in the event conditions of fl'oyv become abnormal.

/T he preferred application of this improved control device is made, forpurposes of disclosure, in connection, with an oil burner adapted toheat dwellings, otfice buildings, factories and certain manufacturingagencies such as heat treatment furnaces and the like. If normal fuelflow conditions exist this improved safety device does not becomeeffective to stop the flow, but should an insuficient supply of oil oran excess quantityo'foil be supplied then the safety device operates toshut down the demand for the oil. In addition, this device preferablyincludes means for regulating the'normal flow .of liquid through theconduit system or burner although the means for controlling the normalflow may be separate.

This improved safety device formed a part of my application for LettersPatent N. 30,312, filed May 14th, 1925, and is divided therefrom. 7

While the particular installation of this invention is described inconnection with an oil burner, it will be understood that this novelcontrol device may be employed in any conduit system-through which aliquid flows and in which it is desired to have a safety mechanism forcontrolling'the stoppage of the flow of fuel as well as having means forregulating the normal flow of the liquid. As

applied to the oil burner, and as an example, the safety device hereinpreventsthe starting of the burner when the flow of the oil would be sosmall as to create an explosive mixture withthe air normally supplied,or should the conduit system'be flooded and overflow, the

safety device functions to prevent the starting of the burner therebyeliminating the "danger of igniting the oil .which has over- The safetyportion of this improved device,

may if desired be responsiveto other undesir- "of liquid through saidsystem and will also act to stop the flow of liquid in said system whenabnormal conditions of flow of liquid exists in the system.

The particular object of this invention is to provide a novelcontrolling device for governing the flow of liquid fuel from the sourceof supply thereof to a liquid burner, and to provide within thiscontrolling device suitable means for governing the normal flow of fueltherethrough and to govern the flow of fuel when abnormal conditions ofthe flow exists.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent when the detaileddescription of this improved device is read.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View showing my improved control deviceassociated with a liquid fuel burner and a fuel conduit system.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the safety device showing the control forthe normal flow of liquid and showing a control for stopping the flow offuel through the system. This figure is taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 3;and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the improved device shown in Fig; 2 takenon the line 33 thereof.

For satisfactorily disclosing the principles of this invention there isshown in Fig. 1 a. furnace 1 of the ordinary hot water or steam type andan oil burner 2 associated therewith in the usual manner. The fuelsupply system may comprise a tank 3 connected to the burner 2 by meansof a supply pipe 4, valve 6 and inlet pipe 7. It will be understoodhowever, that any means of supply may be used within the purview of thisinvention and that the diagrammatic showing in Fig. 1 is for purposes ofillustration only. My safety device is so designed as to close the valve6, shutting off the supply of oil to the burner when the known singlegate type having the closure portion 8 secured to stem portion 9. Stemportion 9 also forms the core piece of the electric-magnet 10'. Theelectro-magnet. 10 operates to normally hold the. closure portion 8 inraised and open position, current being supplied thereto from .asuitable power source .such as a battery 11. My switch device 5,

shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and3 and contained within a frame 106may be connected by wires 12 and 13 in electric circuit with the battery11 and electro-magnet 10. Now it is seen that when switch 5 is closedthe closure portion 8 is normally held in thereby moving the switch 5-toits open poraised position permitting a free flow of fuel from the tank3 to the burner 2. Closure portion 8 drops to close the valve when the;

switch 5 is opened.

My improved device preferably consists of a frame 106'considered as areservoir or bowl which receives the liquid or fuel passing through theconduit systemand which liquid. normally assumes level 107 in suchreservoir.-

The fuel preferably enters this device by. pipe 108 and passes to thereservoir 106 through a suitable valve 109. The fuel or liquid passesfrom the reservoir by flowing through pipe 110. A suitable float 111 andthe usual operating means responsive to the position of the float 111vary the position of rod 112 to open or close the valve. The float 64 isshown to the left of the float 111. and is adapted to move in accordancewith the position of the level of the fuel. This float 64 carries asuitable shaft 114 which is guided at its lower end by some means suchas frame 115 and at its top end it carries a plate 116. This plate isprovided with a slot 117 and with arms 118 and 119 which arerespectively adapted to engage suitable stops 68 and 67 carried by theswitch 5. A suitable amount of lost motion may be provided between themovements of the float [I 64 and the actual opening of the switch. Thislost motion may be in the switch wherein the mercurytherein is requiredto be moved a certain amount before the switch opens, or the lost motionmay be between the stops 67 and 68 and the arms 118 and 119. In thisdisclosure the lost motion is-in the switch.

By reference to application S. N,3Q,3l2, filed May 14, 1925, abovenoted, the switch 5 is provided with contacts and a desirable amount ofmercury" within the reservoir or container 120. This mercury is ada tedto be moved to connect thecontacts there y clos- "mg the switch. As theswitch is moved, the

type of safety device is simple and permits satisfactory normaloperation but prevents the operation of the burner whenabnormal fuelfeed conditions, or flow thereof,.exist. Ajsatisfactory means forcleaning the fuel feed chamber is provided by suitable stoppers 121 and122 which are readily removed.

While the foregoing description applies to v the device as incorporatedin a liquid fuel burner it will be understood that" the device willfunction normally to control the flow of liquid through the conduitsystem by reason of the raisingand lowering of float 111 therebycontrolling the opening and closing of valve 109'. Should this valve 109become fouled by, dirt or other material sothat the valve will not fullyseat, the liquid would .sition. The construction of this particular flowinto the reservoir but would not pass: therefrom through pipe 110insufficienty' quantities and consequently the reservoir would overflowandcause danger. To overcome this disadvantage thefloat 64 is providedand is arranged to raise and lowercin accordance with the level of theliquid in the reservoir. The normal; operation of this float 64 is tovary a control means, such for example as the closure portion 8 of valve"which governs the flow of the liquid from its source ofsupply to theapparatus consuming the same. In this disclosure there is provided theelectrical switch 5 which is connected in an electrical control systemof the operating device and when either abnor- "inal high level orabnormal low level exists the switch '5 is opened thereby opening thecircuit of the apparatus, permitting'the'closure portion 8 of valve 6 toclose, thus stop ping'the flow of liquid fuel to the burner through theconduit system. Any particular substitute form of apparatus may beemployed for connecting the float 64, to the.

switch 5. The apparatus heretofore des cribedhas proven satisfactory foraccom' 'plishing this purpose.

t It will be seen from the foregoing disclosureand particulardescription of the apparatus that a most satisfactory device has beenprovided for controlling the normal How of liquid thorugh' a liquidconduitsys- Y tern and for controlling the stoppage of the flow of theliquidiwhen there is abnormal M mercury changes position so that it isin encondition of flow in the system. The appa- 'tions may be made inthe particular con struction and arrangement of parts without departingfrom the broad scope of my invention which is outlined in the subjoinedclaims.

I claim:

1; In a hydrocarbon burner, the combination of fuel supply means, achamber for receiving predetermined amounts of said fuel, a floatcarried in said chamber, an electrical switch located in juxta-positionto said float, and means associated with said floatincluding-a platepositioned to engage parts of said switch for automatically opening saidswitch when there is high or low abnormal varia tions from thenormallevel of said fuel in said chamber.

2. In a hydrocarbon burner, the combination of fuel supply means, achamber for receiving a predetermined amount of said fuel, afloatcarried in said chamber, an electrical switch located in juxta-positionto said float, a stem carried by said float, and a plate mounted on saidstem and positioned to engage parts of said switch either upon abnormalhigh fuel level in'said chamber or upon abnormal low fuel level in saidchamber.

3. In a device for regulating the passage of liquid through a liquidconduit system, the combination of a float regulating means forgoverning the normal flow of liquid through said system, and a secondfloat responsive meansseparate from the first float means and responsiveto the same liquid level as the first float and adapted to control thestoppage of flow of fuel when abnormal conditions exist in said system.

4'. In a liquid conduitsystem the combination of a reservoir mounted insaid system and adapted to have the liquid pass therethrough, a valvefor controlling the flow of liquid into said reservoir, a floatresponsive to the level of liquid in said reservoir for controlling theoperation of said valve, a second float insaid reservoir adapted to riseand fall in accordance with the liquid level therein,-an-el ectricalswitch of an electrical control circuit in juxta-position to said secondfloat and means associated with said second float and positioned toengage parts of said switch for automatically opening said switch eitherupon abnormal high liquid level in being so associated with said floatas to be opened thereby under abnormal conditions of liquid level withinsaid reservoir, said switch being connected in an electrical circuitwhich governs the flow of liquid through said system.

6. In a liquid conduit system the combination of a reservoir mounted insaid system and adapted to have the liquid thereof pass theretlu'ough, aliquid inlet to said-reservoir, a'valve for controlling the flow ofliquid from said inlet to said reservoir, a float responsive to thelevel of liquid within said reservoir, said float being associated withsaid valve to control the opening and closing thereof, a second floatwithin said reservoir and positioned to be responsive to the level ofliquid therein, a stem carried by said second float,

an electrical switch carried by said reservoir,

a plate carried by said stem and positioned to engage parts on saidswitch to open said switch when said second float reaches an abnormallow position or an abnormal high position.

7. In a liquid conduitsystem the combination of a reservoir mounted insaid system and adapted to have the liquid pass therethrough, a liquidinlet to said reservoir, a valve for controlling the flow of liquidthrough said inlet, a float within said reservoir and moveable with thelevel of the liquid in said reservoir, a stem passing through said floatand adapted to have relative movement therewith, the lower end of saidstem forming a portion of said Valve, guide means at the lower end ofsaid stem and at the upper endv of said stem for maintaining the stem inpredetermined verticalposition, a second float within said reservoir andpositioned to be responsive to the level of liquid therein, a secondstem within said reservoir and pass- .ing through said second float andbeing This specification signed this 21st day of December, 1925.

ROBERT F. METCALFE.

